Notes / Commercial Description:
Saison-Brett, based on our very popular Tank 7, is assertively dry hopped, then bottle conditioned with various yeasts, including Brettanomyces, a wild strain that imparts a distinctive earthy quality. Though this farmhouse ale was given three months of bottle age prior to release, further cellaring will continue to enhance the “Brett” character, if that's what you're after.

Reviews by GMUPatriot_inKansas:

More User Reviews:

Straight pour from a 25.4oz/750ml cork-and-cage bottle to an oversized wineglass (Jester King stemware); it looks like this was bottled on January 30, 2015, and the marking indicates it’ll be plenty good through January, 2017 (“BATCH NUMBER/BEST BY DATE: L013015-2 01-2017”). This was purchased two days ago and promptly went into the fridge, so it’s had a chance to rest at a cool temperature.

Appearance (4.75): Four solid fingers of tight, custard-colored foam rise off of the pour immediately, capping a cloudy golden-orange body. As the head recedes—slowly—it leaves fat splotches of foam and thick legs all around the glass, along with a good centimeter of lumpy, fluffy foam at the surface.

Smell (4.25): A mixture of light, sweet fruit and floral tones (d’anjou pear, white grapes, honeysuckle, and a little lavender), along with light, honeyed biscuits and fresh-cracked wheat flesh out the confluence of malt and yeasty esters. The brett is still pretty young, clearly, but it’s there, adding a little minerally, vinous character that plays well with the base beer’s structure.

Taste (4.25): . . . and while it’s still young, for sure, there’s definitely more brett on the palate than in the nose. The dry-hopping is also clear, here, with the pithy, citrusy, little bitter tang of orange zest, which melds nicely with the vinous, mineral tones supplied by the brett. There’s a mild, tangy, phenolic funk that floats behind the vinous and zesty flavors. Some malt structure props up the hops and yeast, offering floury biscuits, and more raw wheat kernels. A little warming alcohol creeps up toward the end, along with a moderately bitter, citrus zest flavor—which isn’t all that surprising, considering this is a saison clocking in at 8.5% ABV. The brett definitely lightens up the base beer, tamping down the strongly fruity esters of Tank 7 and turning them into drier floral and lightly funky tones. The brett’s young, but this is still a damn good saison.

Mouthfeel (4.5): The body comes in at a medium, velvety weight that immediately lightens up with an expansive, fluffy foaming action, which persists until it washes out. The hops and phenols, boosted by the alcohol, dry out the body significantly before the wash. In spite of its size and all of its different pieces, this is incredibly easy and satisfying to drink.

Overall (4.25): Right now, this is a lovely saison and a nice riff on the original beer—but the brett is clearly still pretty young and it has amazing potential. From here on out, though, the brett will transform the beer into something far different from the original Tank 7. When it’s young, you get a nice glimpse of both sides, and it presents a very nice balance of New and Old World renditions of the style without jumping the shark. Nicely done, Boulevard. (Yes, I’ll be buying more.)

It seems Brett is making a home in nearly every adventurous brewery in the US. Look back a decade ago and most brewers would not even think of letting this tasty little nasty near their tanks.

This beer must get daily calls from Brussels wanting its lace back, perhaps the best lacing and head retention we've seen from an American-brewed beer. Slightly hazy, pale yellow-orange color. Smells of apple skin, musty basement, wild herbs and animal feed grain. Heavenly smoothness from a light, fluffy body. Flavors range from lemongrass to apple cider, hop oil to medicinal herbs, cracker graininess to faint black pepper. Needless to say, very complex. Alcohol drops in with that black pepper spice and some pear-like fruitiness, yet shows little warmth from its size, just more of a clean breath of alcohol. Finishes bone dry with some tart remnants.

Appearance: When poured into my pint glass (messed up and should have used a tulip), the first thing I noticed was the excessive, foamy head (at least 3 fingers worth). The head retention was good and it had light lacing. The body was a hazy amber.

Smell: The earthy essence of the Brett is front and center; there is almost a little funk smell along with a little fruitiness. Overall, it's a nice smell.

Taste: The funky Brett taste is the most noticable aspect of the taste. There is also citrus, malt, and biscut flavors. It's a complex taste that mixes sweet and sour. It's a dry beer that has little bitterness.

Mouth: The medium bodied beer finishes dry and clean. The carbonation is there too.

Overall: This might be the best Saison I've had. The beer is balanced in all aspects. You could grab 2 bottles, drink one now, and save one for a year or 2 and probably have the same results.

S: Loads of barnyard, that brett jumps out right away. Musty with huge barnyard smells, loads of fresh fruit coupled with floral notes and some hops. Wow.

T: I am surprised at how much the brett yeast really affects the flavor with such a young beer, but it does. Huge flavors of wet hay, barnyard funk and yeast but it gets mixed with the huge fruit flavors. Pineapple, sour apple, lemon and some floral flavors which are tart but some underlying sweetness is still evident. Some pepper kicks in with some hops bitterness to deliver a bone dry finish that lingers with the barnyard funkiness. This is a world class beer.

M: Nice full lasting flavor provides some pricky feel with slight stickyness, but in the end it dries out nicely. Perfect carbonation, not much alcohol noted. Nice.

O: I'll repeat what another BA'er said. This may be the best Saison I've ever had. I love Tank 7, but the brett in this takes it to a whole other level. I still can't believe the amount of brett that comes out with such a young beer, can you imagine if you let it age a bit? Wow, brett monster.

Drink this beer, it's phenomenal. If you love brett, this is a must drink....and drink...and drink.

Probably the best Saison I have ever had. Funky Brett, crisp apple and dry as hell. Similar to Rayon Vert but a bit brighter in the flavor profile. Simply a beautiful beer that I need to find more of to put away for a year or two. Highly recommended. Loving Boulevard right now.

I have had this bottled and on tap and it is better bottled. The cork releases with a pop which gets louder as the beer ages releasing herbal and spicy hop aromas mingling with cidery, yeasty fruit aromas with a little barnyard funk that gets more pronounced as the beer ages. It pours a lively, hazy straw with a fizzy quickly dissipating, fluffy head. In older versions the head is more pillowy and persistent. Bread and biscuit malt flavors support and mellow the tart, citrusy funky, earthy saison yeast flavors. Mid-palate reveals some peach. The palate finishes dry and tart with a moderate hop accent. The Brettanomyces really shows up with a very finely bubbled, soft, moussey texture that becomes more luscious and alluring as the beer ages.

T: Flavor was lightly tart, bready malts, and funky oranges. Light horse blanket yeastiness, and barnyard scent gives this a definite wild side while maintaining drinkability. Hay, horsey-grass hopping comes on the finish with a nice lingering fade. A dry apple-pear yeastiness sneaks through in flashes.

M: Crisp mouthful, tingly on the tip of the tongue, with a light to medium consistency. Light funky dry fade.

O: Drinkability was good, while maintaing a sense of respectable wild side per style. The beer actually becomes easier to consume deeper into the experience. An easy A flavor, gently yet respectable, not overwhelming, with other factors of good support.

This is a wonderful beer that I have been wanting to try for awhile. It certainly lived up to my expectations.
The appearance is a pretty goldenrod with a really nice haze. It poured with a really lively white head that was pillow like and creamy.
The aroma is barnyard funk and straw along with a big zesty note along with some earthy notes from the yeast.
The tastes are pretty similar with the zest and straw being most prominent. Has no trace of alcohol despite being 8.5%.
The palate is medium plus with a great zest that really lingers. Also the earthiness really sticks to the palate Has a nice chalkiness as well. Just lasts like crazy. Probably my favorite aspect of this beer. No alcohol presence and it is super drinkable. Would think it is closer to 6.5%.
Overall this is amazing and I would love to get another bottle to age for a couple of years. One of the best saisons I've had.

A - Pretty light cloudy golden straw yellow with a sea foam white 3 finger head created on a very gentle pour. Took me about 20 minutes and 3 pours to get half of my glass full. Retention is very nice and there is plenty of thick webbed lacing..

S - A nice tart funk with yeast, grass, and some floral hops and herbs. More citrusy scents and some spice mixed in as well. Brett has really added to the aroma.

T - A slight tartness along with sweetness. A nice citrus, lemon and floral hops with a wet straw/grass funk. Good amount of yeast, wheat, and some light spice to finish it off.

A- I had heard you should pour this beer slowly and I'm glad I did as, even with a slow pour, the glass was mostly foam. A high pillowy white 4 finger head that sticks around. The beer is a bright yellow, good degree of clarity on the initial pour.

S- Big brett presence, with that earthy funk, nice lemon and grassy notes, getting even some spice and maybe just a touch of banana.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy lemon color with a blizzard of a head that retains like packed powder with clumps of foam sticking the the sides of the tulip glass

Smell: Grapefruit perfume, with undertones of green apple, lilacs, pear and hay, but the Brett, at this stage of the game, is underwhelming (re-visiting this beer, in May of 2010, shows that the grapefruit has faded and the Brett is becoming more prominent)

Taste: Sweet and floral, up front, with a biscuity base and a developing green apple sourness that is complemented by grapefruit tartness; after the swallow, the tart and sour flavors combine in a complex interweaving, but the sweetness up front never really dissipates; leathery undertones throughout (the tasting 15 months later displays far less sweetness, but a lovely dry, tart character)

Mouthfeel: Medium body with high carbonation

Drinkability: A terrific Saison that will be interesting to follow as it ages and the Brett does its work; for my palate, it is drinking beautifully right now (as it is after some age, though in a very different way)

"A traditional Belgian-style saison was the starting point for this limited edition ale, but then the fun began: It was dry hopped, followed by bottle conditioning with various yeasts, including Brettanomyces, a wild strain that imparts a distinctive earthy quality. Though this farmhouse ale received three months of bottle age prior to release, further cellaring will continue to enhance the "Brett" character, if that's what you're after..." Brewed in the style of a Belgian Saison / Farmhouse Ale with a Brettanomyces strain added. A popular annual release by Boulevard since 2007, released in 750ml. bottles and on limited draft.

Poured from a 750ml. bottle to a tulip glass. Served above 51 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a boastful frothy foam and sudsy head of a pale straw white color over a mildly hazy amber body with ample carbonation. Retention is very good and lacing is light and patchy. 4

(Taste) Slick, syrupy pale and Belgian cracker malt backbone with a striking yeast and brett impact, moderately dry with tart peach and apricot juice, mild coriander and white peppercorn spice, moderate funkiness overall. Moderate citrusy and lemony hop background with a moderate bitterness. Quite a complex saison and a strong contender for one of the best Brettanomyces impacted beers out there. 4.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, silky,clean and moderately dry. Carbonation is brisk, generating a moderate frothiness and a fully crisp finish. Body is medium/heavy for the style, medium overall. Balance is evenly sweet to tart to funky and spicy. Alcohol presence is mild and there are no off characters. 4

(Overall) Arguably one of the best constructed and tastiest saison ales out there, with plenty of yeast and brett character to balance out the traditional malt body. The dry hopping impact makes a tremendous impact and contributes citrus character to the already complex and lively body. Highly recommended beer. 4.25

Vertical Notes:

2014 (1 Year+ Aged): Pours an equally substandial sudsy head to the 2015 vintage, slightly lighter body color, closer to straw and substantial lively carbonation (Cork shot off automatically, beware!) Retention is good, lacing is light and patchy. Aromas showcase an increase in tartness and funk, increased effervescent notes of white pepper and fruit juice. The flavor has an increase in fermented fruit juices, funk and tartness, a reduced hop profile and slightly reserved pepper and spiciness but comes off more delicately balanced with the other flavors over the fresh vintage. Texture is silky, clean, slick, carbonation is equally brisk. A phenomenal vintage, even without the boldness of the hop profile, it comes through beautifully balanced and equally flavorful.

2013 (2 Years+ Aged): This vintage pours a sudsy head, shorter lived but equally easy to agitate, a slightly hazier body with ample, lively carbonation. Retention is above average, lacing is light and patchy. The aroma of this vintage has slightly less funk and tartness than the year ahead of it, although the pepper and fruit qualities are more pronounced. The flavor profile reflects this, with ample light fruit juices, mellow tartness, light funk and shallow spicy yeast profile. Texture is slick, lightly syrupy, smooth and clean. Carbonation is equally brisk with high crispness. Another fine vintage, although the flavor doesn't quite seem to hit the same depth of the newer two batches, with noted reservations in the malt body and in the full scope of the yeast and brett profile. It seems this beer's sweet spot lies around the 1-2 year mark.

Batch 2008-1. Summer sunshine yellow with Champagnesque carbonation that created at least eight fingers of eggshell colored foam during a gentle pour. It will be several minutes before there's more beer than foam. The head develops a gentle rockiness as it melts and is starting to grace the glass with ribbons of lovely looking lace. Second, third and fourth pours result in Matterhorn-like mountains of stiff-sticky foam that pull the score up one notch.

The aroma is out of this world! Looks like combining the outstanding Boulevard Saison with Brettanomyces was a great idea. The combination of pale grains, wild grasses, lemon zest and an ideal amount of sourish horseblanket funk is so impressive that the ultimate score is an easy call.

Saison-Brett is at least as good as the beer it was based on... if not a little bit better. It has been quite a while since I bought Saison and I'm hoping that it isn't really retired. If Tank 7 is its replacement, then it has some pretty big shoes to fill. Anyway, back to this beauty.

Brettanomyces is wonderful stuff, but it doesn't work as well when it overpowers the rest of the ingredients. No such worries here. The tangy-earthy-funky quality of the yeast is simply one part (one very important part) of a kaleidoscopic flavor profile.

Sourdough bread and lemon zest are still going strong, as is white pepper and clove on the spicy side of things. These guys must have used a Belgian ale yeast strain as well. Sweet and bitter are roughly balanced and the ABV has to be a misprint. It tastes and feels like no more than 6.5%. Drinkability is through the roof.

The mouthfeel is the only (minor) chink in the armor of excellence. As was anticipated on cork extraction, the boisterousness of the beer has faded quickly. It's now on the lazy side and lacks the lightly creamy expansive quality of the best Belgians.

Saison-Brett is yet another masterful creation in the Smokestack Series from BBC. It looks like this will be at least a semi-regular release, which pleases me to no end. If you have any interest in saisons or wild ales, seek this one out.

Hazy light gold color - a little like pineapple juice - with a substantial foamy white head that lingers a ll the way down. No real lacing, just occasional clumps of foam on the glass.

The aroma is funky, floral and fruity all at the same time - hints of tropical fruit, wet blankets, crackers, hay, some vague floral notes, pine - really hard to describe and seems to change as you drink.

The taste is also complex, slightly sweet and sour at once, grapefruit, pineapple, crackers, earthy, phenolic and more but nicely blended and none overpowering. Finishes nicely dry and slightly peppery.

Huge thanks to Mike for splitting this with me to break up some of the monotony of a mini-BCS tasting (hah!). Been on the "wants" list for a while now. Pours a heavily cloudy, almost completely opaque golden-yellow color with little bits of sediment raging about. The head is enormous - foamy, thick, and chunky, leaving fat patches of lacing huddled around the entire circumference of the glass.

I may have been ever so slightly inebriated at the time, but the first line in my notes for the aroma simply says, "...goddamn ridiculous amounts of Brett, funk, and barnyard..." and there really is no surprise there, given the name. Lots of soft bubblegum aromas, hay, wet wood; probably one of the funkiest things I've smelled. However, one of the beautiful things about this beer is that the Brett is still contempt in all of its power, and balanced by a nice inclusion of some light lemon and citrus zest and well as an earthy and grassy hop blanket. Spicy and funky, out of this world.

Much like the aroma, the taste is funkadelic as well. Plenty of barnyard and "horseblanket" flavors about, including lots of damp cellar, cork, and wood notes. Yeast resides in every corner with lots of clove and kitchen spices to it. Earthy, grassy, and herbal hops ride in and out on a wave of lightly toasted, bready malts. The hops seem to also carry a mild, white pepper flavor to them. Splashes of citrus peel and mildly tart lemon zest work the palate a bit, keeping things fresh. Awesome combination of fruity sweetness, earthy harshness, yeasty funkness, and and saison spiciness. The finish is ultra dry, as expected - medium bodied with ample carbonation.

Wow, I was expecting good things from this one and it certainly delivered. A funk-lover's wet dream in beer form. Despite the unadulterated amounts of funk, it never seems too harsh or too out of balance thanks to the numerous other flavor contributors. All-in-all, a very nicely crafted and well put together beer. Bravo.

The aroma is clean and refreshing with notes of lemon peel, tangerines, wheat crackers, mild brett and well integrated hop notes.

The taste is very refreshing with a gentle sweetness and a mildly tart complement. A light malty backbone is coupled with lovely fruit notes of lemon and tangerine. Clean brett aromas and well integrated hop notes. The finish is dry with a light bitterness to it and tart citric notes. No sign of the alcohol.

Moderate body, effervescent character.

A lovely beer - refreshing and easy to drink but still lots of character.

Reviewed from notes on 7/4/10. Bottle number 5558 of 13400 produced. No bottling date that I could find. I picked this up in St. Louis in March and have been cellaring it since.

A: A big, pillowy head of 3 fingers results from a medium pour into my snifter. The color of this beer is a magnificent golden wheat. Truly a beautiful hue. The head is tightly packed and thick and takes its time to recede. Said head has a sparkly look to it and it leaves dots and c-shaped curves as the lacing pattern. The volatile carbonation bubbles are racing to get to the top of the glass.

S: An amazingly fresh blast of well-balanced malt, hops, and the Brett yeast is my first impression. Soft, nearly sweet clove and coriander smells blend with a healthy dose of earthy, grassy hops and the funky, wild, sour character of the the yeast. There is some pepperiness evident, as well. The resultant cohesive aroma is reminiscent of a freshly plucked Granny Smith apple.

T: Ooh, very nice. Following from the smell, the bland of components add up to produce a very satisfying beverage. At first sip, the spicy tartness (almost pepper-tart-cherry-like) attacks the sides of my palate, while the sweetness of the malts sits heavy on my tongue. The hops finish out the taste with an earthy drying of the palate, while the cascading spicy sweetness breaks over the dryness.

M: Exciting. When just opened and decently cold, the carbonation is aggressive and enticing, spreading the goodness of the beer to all buds on my palate. I would say this is medium bodied in general, but with a heavy tart and spice presence. The tartness of the Brett pushes this MF all the way to the right of the dial for me.

D: The more I drink good Saisons, the more I fall in love with them. If available to me regularly, I would certainly drink this a lot over time. The spicy, tart fruit, hop combo in this beer really floats my boat.